Combined tag affixing and marking machine



W. AND F. L. BORCHERT. COMBINED TAG AFFIXING AND MARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED NOV. 23, 1918.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET W. AND F.-L BORCHERT.

COMBINED TAG AFFIXING AND MARKING MACHlNE.

. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23,1918- Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

.4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 23,1918- Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Q Q Z V z X 9 w z W, w WY i w 1 x w H WW 0 W 6 i 4 y \E w m 5 1% a? m a w h J a z 7 m W W w a J W 0 4 a 0% 6 M M w i J w. AND F. L. BORCHERT. COMBlNED TAG AFFlXlNG AND MARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 191-8. 1 86,047 Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4-- UNITED STATES PATENT @FFl CE.

COMBINED TAG AFFIXJING AND MARKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A110. 2,1921.

Application filed November 23, 1918. Serial No. 263,848.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM Boner-mar and Fnnn L. Bonorrnnr, citizens of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of lVinnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Tag Affixing and Marking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to laundry marking machines, and has more particular reference to a machine of this character combined with means for affixing a tag to a garment or other material so that the operations of aflixing the tag and marking it with identifying characters can be simultaneously performed.

Our improvements in their present embodiment are illustrated in connection with a tag-afiixingdevice of the character described and claimed in our co-pending application, Serial No. 204,664, filed Nov. 30, 1917. This affixing machine is exemplified by the provision of an afiixing device adapted to be moved by operation of a hand lever from a normal work-receiving position to a. tag-receiving position in which a tag is automatically fed from a magazine into the affixing device which is then returned to the work-receiving position. From this posi tion the affixing device is adapted to be moved by manual pressure to clamp the tag onto the work. Our present improvements contemplate the provision of a marking or printing mechanism cooperating with the afiixing device in such manner that when the affixing device is operated to affix a tag, the type of the printing mechanism will simultaneously mark the tag.

Our improvements also contemplate such coordination of the affixing device and marking mechanism that both will be operated by a single operating handle to cause the type to be inked at the time the affixing d vice is being supplied with a new One of the most important features of our improvements resides in the construction and operation of the type-carrying elements 0r bars, the magazine in which they are carried and the method by which the type bars are selected and moved into and out of marking position. In this regard, we have aimed to provide a magazine body having a feed port and a plurality of type fonts shlftabl e in the magazine by suitable means to pos1- tionany one type bar from each font at the feeding port and to project these selected type bars through the feeding port to a printing position without removing the type bars from the magazine or from their posi tlon in their respective fonts. In other words, we have aimed to provide a marking mechanism including shiftable fonts of type and means fOr selecting one type bar from each font and placing the selected bars in a marking position without removing them from their respective fonts.

In connection with the marking mechanism, we have also aimed to provide type bars of novel construction, and to provide improved means for shifting the fonts of type, moving the selected type bars to marklng position and for effecting the marking. With regard to this marking apparatus, we have provided novel means for insuring that the type will be brought to bear with proper pressure on the mark-receiving surface.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated as the invention becomes better understood by referring to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of a combined tag affixing and marking machine embodying our improvements;

F 2, a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the parts in normal position;

Fig. 3, a side elevation of the machine showing the tag-affixing device moved to a tag-receiving position and the type magazine moved to an inking position;

Fig. 4, a fragmentary sectional view with the parts in the same position as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a side elevation of the machine with the tag-aflixing device, showing a tag being afiixed and marked;

Fig. 6, a front elevation of the type magazine removed from the machine;

Fig. 7, a sectional view through the magazine taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8, a rear elevation of the type magazine;

Figs. 9, 10 and 11, horizontal sectional views taken on the lines 9-9, 1010 and 1111, respectively, of Fig. 7;

Figs. 12, 13, and 14, detail perspective movable type bar, respectively;

Fig. 15, a perspective view of a U-shaped tag adapted to be ahixed to a garment and marked; and

Fig. 16, a perspective view of the mask interposed between the type bars and the tag to be marked.

Since the affixing device illustrated herein constitutes the subject matter of a separate application and is fully described therein, we have deemed it unnecessary to consider this device, except as it cooperates with the marking mechanism. It is believed, there fore, that a brief description of the affixing; device will sufhce for the present case, although it will be noted that the main frame structure and certain elements of the affixing device are common to the marking mechanism.

The main frame consists of a base 21 upon which is mounted in spaced relation a pair of upright standards 22 and 23 having journaled transversely thereon a main operating rock shaft 24, a stationary supporting shaft 25 and separate pivot shafts 26 on the upper end of each standard. Fixed to each pivot shaft 26 at the inner side of each standard is an arm 27, which supports through the agency of links 28, a tag-affixing device designated generally by character 29. This affixing device comprises what might be termed a stationary part 31 and a movable part 32. The stationary part provides a body having spaced sides 33 joined by a top portion 34, the sides having openings 35 providing a mouth into which the tags and material to be tagged are inserted. The part 32, interposed between the sides 33, is adapted to be moved toward and from the cross portion 34 to clamp a tag be tween the parts 32 and 34. These parts 32 and 34 are respectively pivotally connected to the links 28 as shown, and the latter are pivotally connected at 36 to the arms 27. By pressing down on the laterally projecting finger 37 formed integral with the part 31, the ailixing device will be swung downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2, about the pivots 36, to the position shown in F 5, whereby the parts 31 and 32 are relatively moved in a clamping action, as will be obvious. lVhen the pressure is released the parts will be returned to normal position by springs 38 in the part 32, which separate the parts 31 and 32 through the agency of plungers 39. This completes the affixing device per 86, which obviously is between the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 5 to clamp a tag onto a piece of flat material inserted into the mouth 35 into cooperative relation with the tag.

The affixingmachine described in said application also includes means for moving the atlixin'g device to and from a tag-receiving position, and other means forautomatically feeding a taginto the mouth of the affixing device when in such position. These means, generally stated, consist of a hand crank 41 fixed to the shaft 24 and having a lost motion connection 42 with a link 43, which is pivotally connected at 44 to an arm 45 in turn fixed to the pivot shaft 26 on the standard 22. In Figs. 2 and 5, the hand crank 41 is in normal position in which the arms 27 are locked against oscillating movement so as to provide a stationary part upon which the aflixing device may be swung as already described. The means for holdinr, the arms 27 stationary consist of the connection 43-45, which as shown in Fig. 5. holds the arms 27 against movement in a clockwise direction, and the stops 46 (Fig. 2) fixed to the shaft 24, which are brought into contact with the lower ends of the arms 27 and hold them against movement in a counter -clockwise direction. lVhen the crank arm 41 is swung forwardly from said normal position, that is, in a countor-clockwise direction, the stops 46 will be withdrawn from the arms 27 and the latter will be oscillated in a counter-clockwise direction through the agency of the connection 4345, thereby moving the tag affixing device 29 to the tag-receiving position shown in Fig. 3. At this position a Ushape tag will be picked from a comb or magazine 47 by means of a feeder 48 and fed thereby into the mouth 35 of the affixing; device 29. This feeder 48 is operated at the proper time by a rocker arm 49 fixed to the shaft 24 in the manner more fully described in our co-pendin; application. Upon returning the handle 41, the a'fiixingdevice and parts connected with the rock shaft 24 will be returned to the normal position shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing it will be manifest that in order to automatically feed a tag into the affixing device 29, the crank 41 is pulled forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 5 and then returned to such position, whereupon the affixing' device assumes the normal position shown in Fig. 2 and is ready for the affixingoperation. This, as has been explained, is effected by inserting the material to be marked into the mouth 35 and consequently into the mouth of the tag and pressing; down on the finger rest 37. This action moves the afiixinp; device to the clamp ing position shown in Fig. 5, and upon releasing the pressure, the affixing device will return to normal position. It should be here noted that while I have shown a means for automatically feeding the tags to the afiixing device, such means is not necessary and has no cooperation with the marking mechanism described later, since tags might be positioned in the affixing device by hand or by any suitable means.

Our invention contemplates the promsron of a novel marking mechanism characterized chiefly by the features illustrated in Figs. 6 to lsl inclusive. It is believed that the invention will be best understood by considering first the marking mechanism per se and the-nits cotiperation with the tag-aflixing device. Referring now to the drawings, a plurality of type fonts, four in the present instance, are contained within a type magazine-casing designated generally by character 51. This magazine casing, as is plainly shown, provides a compartment 52 in which a plurality of racks designated generally by character 53 are vertically slidable on V- shaped ways on the front and rear walls 54 and 55, respectively, of the compartment. Each rack, as shown plainly in Fig. 12, consists of upper and lower parallel end portions 56 and 57 joined by a vertical medial portion 58, and between the ends 56 and 57 is stacked a font of type bars, one upon another, occupying the full space between the members 56 and 57, as shown plainly in Fig. 7. Fig. 14 is a perspective View of a type bar in an inverted position, showing clearly the manner in which the type character is arranged; Each type bar, designated generally by character 59, is cut away on its undersurface at one end to provide a type character 61, the printing surface of which is flush with the undersurface of the type bar proper, and is shaped intermediate its ends atone side with a recess 62 and at its opposite side with a projection 63. The opposite ends of the type bars are V-shape to fitin the'ways on the front wall 54L of the magazinecasing and the ways 64 on the front wall of the rack portion 58. By means of these V-shaped ways the type bars are held against lateral displacement and in proper relation with their respective racks, andeachrack with its font of type bars is shiftable as a unit vertically on the ways in the casing. It will be noted, referring to Figs. 9, 10 and 11, that the projections 63 of each type bar are disposed in the recess 62 of the next adjacent type bar. The sides 65 and 66 of the magazine casing are formed respectively with grooves 67 and a rib 68 with which the outer type bars cotiperate, as is plainly evident. The purpose of these recesses 62 and projections 63 is to interlock a set of any four type bars which have been positioned at a feeding station in the horizontal plane of a feeding port 69, so that this set of type bars may be projected as a unit through the feed port to a marking position but without entirely removing the type'bars from their respective fonts. The means 'for projecting a set of type bars to marking position, consists of carriages 71 mounted to slide in the horizontal plane of the port 69 on the projector is provided with inward projections 73 shaped to respectively fit the reways 72, and each type cesses 62 and the projections 63 of the type bars, as plainly shown in Fig. 11. These type projectors are adapted to be moved horizontally on the ways 71 by operating a handle 74: to oscillate the yoked lever 75 which is pivotally mounted at 76 on the casing 51 and is engaged at its ends in the sockets 77 in the type projector 71. Vhen the type projectors 71 are retracted, as shown in Fig. 2, all of the type bars of each font are in vertical alinement and the racks 56 may be independently shifted vertically to position any type bar at the feeding station, that is, in horizontal alinement with the feed port 69. When aset of type bars has been thus selected, the type ends may be projected through the port 69 by drawing the handle 74 forwardly as already mentioned, thus projecting the set of type bars in the manner shown in Fig. 11. The eX- tended ends of the type bars when in this position are backed by a platen 78 formed integral with and projecting forwardly from the front wall of the magazine casing, the purpose of which will appear hereinafter.

Means is now provided whereby the operator may shift the racks 56 vertically in connection with means for indicating the corresponding type characters at the feeding station. This consists in stance, of a bell crank 79 for each rack pivotally mounted at 81 on a rearward extension of the magazine casing and connected at one end with its rack and at its opposite end with a suitable segment 82 fixed to the magazine casing and containing characters designating the type characters of the different fonts. In the present instance, each bell crank lever 79'has at one end a pin and slot pivotal connection 83 with the rack 56 and is equipped at its opposite end with a spring-pressed detent and pointer 84- adapted to engage serrations in the face of the segment opposite each character. The detents 84, therefore, serve as looking elements to hold the racks against displacement from any set position. It will be manifest that by manipulating the pointcrs 84 over the segment, any one type bar from each font may be positioned atthe feeding station and then projected to a marking position by operating the handle 74. After the marking has been effected by this set of type bars'in a manner to be presently described, the bars will be returned to normal position, whereupon the racks may be shifted to secure any other combination of characters. From the construction thus far described, it will be especially noted that the type bars neither leave the magazine casing, nor are'they ever withdrawn from their respective positions in the racks. Instead, however only the typecarrying ends'of the type bars are projected from the casing to a marking position, thus the present in simplifying to a great extent the method of selecting a set of type bars from a number of fonts and placing them in position for marking.

The type magazine just described is normally supported in an upright position between the standards 22 and 23 just at the rear of the tag-affixing head 29. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the magazine is supported through the agency of upper and lower parallel links 85 and 86 at both sides of the casing, respectively, pivot-ally connected at their forward ends at 87 to the casing and at their rear ends 88 to cam followers 89, which rest on cams designated generally by 91, fixed to the rock shaft 24 and in the present instance formed integral with the stops 4:6. Each cam follower 89 v is held in position by a rearwardly extendmg arm 92 pivot-ally connected to an upright link 93, in turn pivotally mounted on the supporting shaft 25. The cam followers are further held in position and adapted to be guided by links 94 pivotally connected at their rear ends at 95 to the cam followers and at their forward ends at 96 to the arms 27 which support the affixing device. It will thus be seen that the type magazine is so supported that it may be swung vertically in a parallel movement about the pivots 88 of the links 85 and 86, although capable of other movements which willbe presently -mentioned. In order to prevent the type from dropping to a lowermost position, suitable means is provided for counterbalancing the weight of the magazine and constantly tending to hold it in an uppermost position. Such means might be in the form of a weight, although in the present instance, springs 97 are provided, acting between the upper end of the cam followers 89 and the casing. The springs bear upwardly on the type magazine and hold it in an elevated position limited by contact of the stops 98 against the underside of the links 85. The type magazine, however, is free to be moved downwardly against the tension of the springs 97 in a movement substantially parallel with that of the affixing device when the latter is moved to affix a tag.

It willbe noted, viewing Figs, 1 and 2, that in the normal position of the type magazine and tagafiixing device the platen 78 is disposed in a cutaway 99 which opens through the top 34: to the mouth 35 of the part 29 of the affixing device. In other words, the platen 78 is positioned directly above magazine and in close proximity to the mark-receiving surface of a tag held in the mouth of the affixing device, so that when a set of type is projected to a marking position with the type faced downward as described above, the type will print on the marking surface of the tag at the time the tag is affixed to the work. ft will be noted, however, that a mask 101 permanently associated with the part 34:, is interposed between the platen and tag and provided with an opening 102 of just sufficient size to give passage to the type characters. This mask serves the purpose of preventing the type from being impressed too heavily into the marking fabric and thus serves as an effectual means for preventing blotchy or blurred marking. It also serves as the tag-engaging surface for the upper jaw.

A. connection is now provided between the affixing device and type magazine for causing the latter to move downwardly with the former and print or mark the tag simultaneously with clamping the tag onto the work. This means, at present, consists of a double locking member 103 adapted to engage at its upper ends beneath the shoulders 101 at both sides of the affixing head, and pivotally mounted at 105 on levers 106 in turn pivotally connected at 107 to each side of the type magazine. The locking lever 103 is constantly urged forward into the locking position shown in Fig. 2, by a spring 108. A cross portion 109 connects two sections of the locking lever and stops 111 limit the forward movement thereof. The levers 106 are constantly urged in a counter-clock wise direction by springs 112 to hold their notched ends 113 in engagement with a depending cam hook 114 formed integral with the lower supporting links 86. Referring now to Fig. 2 and assuming that a tag is positioned in the mouth 35 and a set of type bars have been projected to marking position, it will be evident that when the affixing device is depressed to the position shown in Fig. 5, in which to clamp the tag onto the work, the type magazine will be correspondingly depressed through the agency of the locking lever 103. And through the action of depressing the type magazine the cam hooks 11 1 of the links 86 will beoscillated sufficiently to rock the levers 106 in a clockwise direction and thereby elevate the locking lever 103 sufficiently to effect an upward movement of the tag affixing device relatively to the type magazine. This relative vertical movement has the effect of pressing the type through the opening 102 in the mask 101' with sufficient pressure to make a clear imprint on the tag. When pressure on the affixing device is. released, the parts will return to the normal position shown in Fig. 2 by reason of the springs 38 and 97 it being noted that the type will be elevated slightly above the mask 101 by reason of the relative movement effected through the levers 106 and 103, so that the type can be retracted without interference with the mask.

Attention is now called to the matter of inking the type. Each time the operating crank 41 is pulled forward to feed a new tag into the affixing device, the type magazinewill be automatically elevated to carry the type which are in marking position into contact with a stationary ink pad, the parts being inversely returned to normal position when the crank 41 is returned. An ink holder 115, suitably supported above the tag-affixing device, carries a suitable inking medium, such as an ink pad. and has an opening in its top through which the type characters may be brought down onto the pad. Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be' noted that the cam follower 89 rests on a low portion of the cam 91, but that when the shaft 24 is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction by the crank 41 the cam surfaces 116 will raise the cam followers, and consequently the type magazine. It will be noted. however, that before the type magazine may e raised the locking levers 103 must be withdrawn fromthe shoulders 104. This is effected during the initial movement of the rock shaft 24. since in the initial elevating movement of the cam followers 89 the type magazine will be pressed forward by the links 85 and 86, causing the rear surface of the tag aflixing head to bear against the cross portion 109 of the locking lever 1'03 and thus withdraw the upper ends of the locking lever from the shoulders 104. Since the operation of pulling the crank 41 forward is generally a quick movement, the locking lever 103 will be instantly released and the type magazine will be free to be elevated under the influence of the cam surfaces 116. The upward movement of the type magazine is further modified by the links 94, which it will be noted are connected to the arms 27 which are swung in a counterclockwise direction when the crank lever 41 is pulled forward. Thus, the cam surfaces 116 govern the vertical movement of the type magazine and the links 94 guide the type magazine horizontally. As a result of the oint action of both these mediums on the type magazine the type bars will follow a path indicated substantially byL-the dotted line A, Fig. 3. That is, the type magazine will be carried upwardly and rearwardly and will then be brought forwardly and downwardly into inking position by movement of the crank 41 forward, and will be returned through the same path to normal position when the crank 41 is returned.

Referring now to the operation in general, it will be recalled that there are two distinct operations, aside from that of simply selecting and setting the type in marking position. These consist first of the movements caused by operating the crank 41, and secondly, the joint operation of affixing and marking the tag. The selecting and setting of the type into marking position has been fully explained above. After the type has been set the crank 41 is pulled forward from afiixing device and type magazine will also be returned to normal position and automatically locked in cooperative relation by the locking lever 103. The afiixing device may now be pressed down to the position shown in Fig. 5 to afiix the tag to the work and to simultaneously mark the tag with the selected characters in the manner fully described above. After the parts have been returned to normal position again the type may be retracted, or if desired, the next tag may be marked with the same type. It will be noted that by omitting to feed a tag to the affixing device, the work may be directly marked by simply inserting it in the mouth 35 and depressing the afiixing device.

It is believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the objects prefaced above, and while We have illustrated and described but a single working embodiment of our improvements, it should be understood that various changes might be made in the construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims, in whichlVe claim:

1. In a marking machine of the character described, a type magazine containing a plurality of fonts of type bars which are relatively shiftable in parallel planes to position anyselected type bar at a marking station with respect tothe casing, means for moving saidselected type bars of each font to a marking position without removal from the casing, and means supporting the type magazine casing so that it is movable bodily to carry said selected type bars into and out of printing position.

2. The combination of a tag-aflixing device including jaws movable relatively to each other for affixing a tag to the work, a type magazine casing containing a plurality of fonts of type bars relatively .shiftable in parallel planes to position any selected type bar at a marking station, means for moving the selected type bars relatively to their respective fonts but not removed therefrom, to a marking position in cooperative relation with the mark-receiving surface of a tag in the affixing device, and means for moving the type magazine casing simultaneously with one of the jaws for marking the tag when the same is affixed to the work.

3. In a markingmachine, a type magazine casing containing a plurality of fonts of type bars relatively shiftable in parallel planes for positioning any type bar in each font at a feeding station, means for moving the selected typebars as a unit to a marking position in which only the type-carrying ends of the type bars are extended from their respective fonts, and means for relatively moving the type magazine casing and the work for effecting an impression of said selected type on the work.

a. In a marking machine, a plurality of fonts of type bars positioned side by side and relatively movable in parallel planes to position any one type bar of each font at a feeding station, means interlocking the type bars at the feeding station, and means for moving said type bars at the feeding station to a marking position in which only the type-carrying ends of the type bars are extended from their respective fonts.

5. In a marking machine, a plurality of fonts of type 'bars positioned side by side and relatively movable in parallel planes to position any one type bar of each font at a feeding station, the type bars of each adj acent font having interlocking notches and extensions so that the type bars at the feeding station are movable as a unit to a marking position.

6. The combination of a type magazine casing having a feed opening, a plurality of type bar racks slidable in parallel relation in the casing and each equipped with a font of type bars any of which may be positioned in alinement with said feed opening by shifting its respective rack, a segment having characters corresponding with the type characters, and a bell crank lever for each rack having one end connected therewith and the other equipped with an indicator cooperating with the segment, the levers of the several characters being independently operable to position any type bar of its respective font at the feed opening.

7. The combination of a plurality of fonts of type bars each movable as a unit to position any type bar at a given station, a segment having characters corresponding with the type characters of said fonts, a bell crank lever for each font connected therewith at one end for shifting the font and cooperating at its opposite end with said segment and adapted to be moved into registration with any character on the segment to position the corresponding type bar of its respective font at said given station.

8. The combination of a font oftype bars stacked in a column and each having a type character at one end, a rack embracing three sides of said font of typeand permitting the type end of the bars to be projected through the open side, a casing having ways on which the rack is slidable along its edges parallel with the open side, the type bars being engaged at their opposite ends with the rack and the casing way at the open the rack so as to be held against lateral displacement from said column, each bar having a type character intermediate said ends side of and on one side of the bar, and means for shifting the rack on said ways to position any type bar at a given station.

9. The combination of a plurality of fonts of type bars, a rack for each font embracing three sides thereof and permitting the type end of the bars to be projected through the open side, the racks being arranged side by side and independently slidable in parallel relation to position any one type bar of each font at a given station, and interlocking means between the type bars uniting those at said given station so that they may be moved as a unit to a marking position.

10. The combination of a series of type racks each equipped with a font of type bars in a column, the racks being arranged side by side and mounted to travel in parallel planes, means for relatively shifting the racks to move any one type bar for each rack to a given station, and means inter locking between the type bars of adjacent fonts for constituting those type bars at the given station a unit adapted to be moved relatively to the remaining type bars to a printing position.

11. The combination of a series of type racks each equipped with a font of type bars in a column, the racks being arranged side by side and mounted to travel in parallel planes, means for relatively shifting the racks to move any one type bar of each rack to a given station, means interlocking between the type bars at the said given station, and means for moving said selected type bars as a unit to a printing position'in which only the tvne-carryin ends of the type bars are extended from their respective fonts of type. V

12. The combination of a series of'type racks each equipped with a font of type bars in a column, the racks being arranged side by side and mounted to travel in parallel planes, means for relatively shifting the racks to move any one type bar of each rack to a given station, means interlocking between the type bars at thesaid given station, and means for engaging only the two outermost of said selected type bars for moving them as a unit to a printing position in which only the type-carrying ends of the type bars are removed from their respective fonts. i

13. In a marking machine of the character described, means for supportin an article to be marked, a type magazine casing having a feed opening, a plurality of type racks in said casing each equipped with a font of type bars, means for moving the type racks to position any selected type bar in alinement with'said feed opening, and means for projecting the type end only of the type bars through said opening to a position in which they are adapted to mark the article on said supporting means.

14. In a marking machine, the combination of a type-magazine casing having a feed opening therein, a plurality of type racks slidable on ways in said casing and each equipped with a font of type bars, means for sliding the racks to position any selected type bar in alinement with said feed opening, and means for projecting the type end only of the type bars through said opening to a marking position in which the type bars are not removed from the magazine casing.

15. In a marking machine of the character described, a type-magazine casing having a feed opening, a plurality of type racks mounted to slide in parallel relation in said casing and each rack equipped with a font of type bars, means for sliding the type racks to position a selected type bar from each rack in alinement with said i ed opening, interlocking means between the type bars for causing those bars in alinement with said opening to move therethrough in unison, and means for projecting only the type-containing end of said selected bars through said opening. I r

16. In a marking machine of the character described, the combination of a series of type racks relatively shiftable in parallel planes, each equipped with a font of type bars, an actuating member for each type rackfor moving it to position any selected type bar at a feeding station, means for movlng inv unison all of the selected type bars at said feeding station to a marking position without removing the type bars from their respective racks, and means for moving the racks bodily as a unit to effect an impression by said selected type bars.

17. In a marking machine of the character described, a type rack equipped with a font of type bars, any one of which may be positioned at a feeding station by shifting the rack, a type-indicating segment, and a pivoted member slidably connected at one end directly with said rack bar and having an indicating part at its opposite end cooperating directly with the segment and operable to shift the rack.

18. The combination of a pivotally mounted tag-affixing device having clamping members adapted to be moved together in a clamping action by swinging the device about its pivotal mounting, a marking device having marking characters adapted to be positioned in cooperative relation with a tag on said affixing device, and means supporting the marking device in cooperative relation with the aflixing device to move bodily therewith during said pivotal affixing action and for causing the selected marking characters to mark the tag when the same is affixed to an article.

19. A marking machine of the character described comprising a type-magazine casing having a feed opening, va plurality of type racks slidable in said casing and each equipped with a font of type bars adapted to be moved by the rack past said feed opening to position any selected type bar in registration therewith, means for moving the type end only of the selected bars through said opening to a marking position, and means pivotally supporting the type-magazine casing so that the same is movable as an entirety to carry its projected type bars into and out of contact with the surface to be marked. v

20. The combination of a pivotally mounted tag-aiiixing device having clamping members movable together in a clamping action by swinging the aihxing device upon its pivotal mounting, a type magazine in co6pera tive" relation with the aiiixing device and having type characters adapted to be positioned in marking relation with a tag carried by the aiiixing device, and means op erating between the ailixing device and tag mechanism for jointly moving them to print the tag when the aflixing device is operated to aflix the tag.

a 21. In a marking machine of the character described, the combination of a device for clamping a tag to an article and movable in. a clamping action from a work-receiving position to a tag-aiiixing position, a type magazine containing a plurality of fonts of type bars, means for projecting from the magazinethe type end only of one bar of each font and positioning said type ends in marking relation to the tag carried by said afiixing device, and means for moving the type magazine with the afiixing device to mark the tag when the latter is clamped to the work.

22. The combination of a device for aiiiX- ing a mark-receiving tag to an article, a marking device having a plurality of fonts of type bars, means for projecting from the marking device the type end only of one bar of each font and for positioning the selected type bars in cooperative relation with said aflixing device, and means for causing said type to mark the tag when the aflixing device is operated to affix the tag.

23. In a marking machine of the character described, a tag magazine equipped with a plurality of fonts of type bars, means for projecting from the magazine the type end only of one bar of each font, an inking device, and means for moving the type magazine to carry its projected type bars into and out of cooperation with the inking device.

24. The combination of a device for affixing a mark-receiving tag to an article, a marking device having a plurality of fonts of type bars relatively movable in parallel planes to position any type bar at a feeding station, means for moving the type bars at the feeding station to a marking position, and means for causing the selected type to mark a tag when the affixing device is operated to affix such tag.

25. In a marking machine, a type magazine casing, a plurality of fonts of type bars mounted in the casing, each font shiftable to position any type bar thereof at a feeding station, means for projecting from the casing only the type ends of the bars at said station, means for supporting material to be marked, and means for bodily moving the magazine casing to carry said projected type into and out of marking relation to said material.

26. In a marking machine, a casing carrying a plurality of relatively shiftable fonts of type bars, any bar of which is adapted to be only partially projected from its respective font to place its type character in marking position, and means for bodily moving the casing to make an impression with said projected type characters.

27. In a marking machine, a casing carrying a plurality of relatively shiftable fonts of type bars, any bar of which is adapted to be only partially projected from its respective font to place its type character in marking position, a device for affixing a tag to an article, and means operative between said casing and said device for causing the casing to be moved and its projected type to make an impression on said tag when the device is operated to affix the tag.

28. In a marking machine, a casing carrying a plurality of relatively shiftable fonts of type bars, any bar of which is adapted to be only partially projected from its respective font to place its type character in marking position, a segment fixed with relation to the casing and carrying indicia indicative of the type characters therein, means cooperating between the segment and fonts of type bars and operable to shift the latter, and means for moving the casing to thereby make an impression with said projected type bars. 7

29. In a marking machine, a plurality of fonts of type bars arranged in juxtaposition and relatively shiftable as font units, to position any selected type bar at a marking station, means for moving each type bar at said station to project its type end only from its respective font, means for support-- mg material to be marked, and means for relatively moving said material and fonts to effect an impression of said projected type on said material.

30; In a marking machine, a plurality of fonts of superimposed type bars each having a type character on one side intermediate the ends of the bar, and means for relatively shifting the bars to position any bar of each font at a marking station, and means for projecting the type ends of the bars at said station to a marking position in Which the piojected'type characters are in a common plane parallel with the longitudinal axes of the bars.

WVILLIAM BORCHERT- FRED .L. BOROHERT, 

